loading...
A photo of a Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus)
Rock Wren

Rock Wren

Salpinctes obsoletus

The rock wren (Salpinctes obsoletus) is a small songbird of the wren family native to western North America, Mexico and Central America. It is the only species in the genus Salpinctes. They have grey-brown upperparts with small black and white spots and pale grey underparts with a light brown rump. Additional distinctive features include a light grey line over the eye, a long slightly decurved thin bill, a long barred tail and dark legs. They actively hunt on the ground, around and under objects, probing with their bill as their extraction tool. They mainly eat insects and spiders. Its song is a trill that becomes more varied during the nesting season. These birds are permanent residents in the south of their range, but northern populations migrate to warmer areas from the central United States and southwest Canada southwards. They are occasional vagrants in the eastern United States. During the breeding season, they move to dry, rocky locations, including canyons, from southwestern Canada south to Costa Rica to build cup nests in a crevice or cavity, usually among rocks.
Birda logo
Download Birda for free and join the community of curious everyday people connecting with the natural world
Birda logo
Download Birda for free and join the community

Rock Wrens on Birda

Photos

Sightings

A map showing the sighting location
Profile picture for William Harmon
William Harmon
Friday 01 Sep 2023 - 4:16pm
United States
A map showing the sighting location
Profile picture for William Harmon
William Harmon
Friday 01 Sep 2023 - 3:59pm
United States
A map showing the sighting location
Profile picture for William Harmon
William Harmon
Friday 01 Sep 2023 - 3:50pm
United States
A map showing the sighting location
Profile picture for William Harmon
William Harmon
Friday 01 Sep 2023 - 3:43pm
United States
Connect with nature,
Find your flock
Copyright © 2023 Chirp Birding Ltd. All rights reserved.